JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #14

It must be very difficult picking up the pieces. It must be like swimming through garbage and faeces. Smelly at first. Then you feel cursed. When your vocabulary drastically decreases. Oh! That reminds me to contact the spooky creative team of Writer: Jeff Lemire; Artists: Graham Nolan and Victor Drujiniu; and Publisher: DC Comics in December 2012. Not sure why though.

So what’s the STORY
morning glory?

Whilst Deadman, John Constantine, Madam Xanadu, and some
twat called Doctor Peril, all try to figure out how to retrieve Timothy Hunter
and Zatanna from the pages of the 'Books of Magic', can you guess what the rest
of the team do in this adventure entitled, 'Enter the House of Mystery'?

Yes.
That is correct, dear reader. Black Orchid, Frankenstein, and Amethyst,
enter the House of Mystery.

Granted,
they didn't know that this simple task would turn out in the way it did
for them.

Skeletons
strike. Martians molest. And I won't even tell you what Black Orchid sees
when she peeks into one of the many-many evolving rooms within.

However,
what I will say; is that after this event, she's as shocked as a sudden
appearance made by the Phantom Stranger, whom tells the team to 'choose
sides' in an impending battle ahead.

Damn right to be continued...

What is the most
memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

Quite a few pithy phases made me chuckle out loud when I
read them in this issue. For example:

1) 'I told you that we should have never come into this cursed
place' -- because it basically sums-up one part of the story.

2) 'You don't know John Constantine very well, do you?' --
because this is starting to sound like a catchphrase for this title.

3) 'Bingo Bango' -- because this is the type of cr*p I come
up with in my everyday life.

What was the BEST
thing about this issue?

Without a shadow of a doubt, there were two scenes that
stood out from the crowd for me amidst this adventure. The first one was the
scene where Black Orchid discovers a secret room with all the information
pertaining to the DC heroes in it -- that was very 'Booster Gold chalkboard',
right? And the second one was the final scene where the Phantom Stranger told
John and company to 'choose sides', whilst Pandora was hovering in the distance
-- oohhhh! Very ominous indeed.

What was the WORST
thing about this issue?

Now, without sounding like a complete plumb -- ops! Too late
-- one of the things I wasn't very keen on, was how this particular tale felt
like a 'stop gap' in between two bigger story-lines.

Admittedly, this is only a minor flaw within the scheme of
things. But one worth mentioning, nonetheless.

What was the most
CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: To me, adventure is the key to this particular issue;
by highlighting both the 'old guard' and maybe the 'new guard', by given each party
a story-strand to explore. Granted, the 'old guard' story-stand did feel more
relevant in hindsight. But the possible 'new guard' story-stand was much more
enjoyable to follow.

ART: Now it's
pretty safe to say that Graham Nolan or Victor Drujiniu aren't bad artists. They're no Mikel Janin.
Granted. But that does not necessarily mean they are unable to draw a mean looking set of
characters, all of which stay true to form with their obvious character traits.

That's good. Very
good for a guest-pencillers.

On a side note, regular series artist, Mikel Janin, has kindly informed me that Graham did most of the layouts, whilst Victor's work is about 85% of the lineart. Thanks Mikel.

If you had to CAST
TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

FRANKENSTEIN: Still sticking with this month's comedy
casting-call theme, I'd pick 'Mock the Week' host, Dara Ó Briain, to do this
un-dead brute, with a heart of gold, some justice.

JOHN: Back in the day when queer meant ill, and fagot was
something you'd eat, Jim Davidson would have been a perfect match for this magician
of dubious intent. Just a little less politically correct is all.

If this issue had a
MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Enter The House Of Mystery At Your Own Peril -- $5 Per
Person -- Or $10 For A Party Of Three.

If this issue were a MOVIE,
an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why?

Whilst reading the part of the story where Black Orchard
and company were looking for a secret 'trigger switch' in the library, my mind suddenly
flashed back to the Mel Brook's movie 'Young Frankenstein'. Conceptually, it
reminded me of the scene where Gene Wilder's character accidentally discovers a
secret passageway to his Great Grandfathers secret library, situated behind a
giant bookcase.

Now I'm afraid to say that I can not show you what
I mean by this, dear reader. (Damn you YouTube). So instead, how about a
related trailer?

FINAL thoughts...

Dear People Who Are In Charge Of Magic at DC Comics,

Greetings my friends, it's nice to see the spiritual side of
this company having some time in the spotlight for a change. Moreover, I'm very
happy that there a number of new spooky title appearing in the ether as well;
conjured up by whim of fate and editorial edict.

However, if it is OK with you, I would like to impart some
much needed advice at this juncture.

'Sometimes too much is too much' -- and -- 'Rome
wasn't built in a day'.

OK, I know that was two pieces of advice. Nonetheless, they
both need to be taken into consideration, if we don't want to see the concept
of magic dwindle away at DC, as it has done so in the past.

Doctor Fate. The Spectre. The Shadowpact. Ragman. Plus quite
a few other books I care not to mention, have all come and gone over the years.
Each of them had their merits (except for The Shadowpact). Each of them had
their faults (except for The Spectre). But ultimately, it was the manner in
which DC tried to flood the market with this genre of series that sunk it into
the abyss.

Please don't do it again. I don't want to see Justice League
Dark go the same way. It's a good book.
A great book. With a smashing cast of characters that should last from
here to eternity.

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